Porcius Festus

Porcius Festus was the Procurator of Iudaea from 59 to 62 AD, succeeding Antonius Felix and preceding Lucceius Albinus.

Biography
Porcius Festus was appointed Procurator of Iudaea during the fifth year of Nero's reign, 59 AD, replacing Antonius Felix. Three days after arriving in Judea, Festus went to Caesarea from Jerusalem, where the Sanhedrin requested that they have the prisoner Paul the Apostle transferred to Jerusalem, where they would ambush and kill him. After ten days with the Jewish leaders, he convened the court and ordered that Paul be brought before him, but Paul declined Porcius' request to come with him to Jerusalem to stand trial, saying that he only ought to be tried in Caesar's court. Herod Agrippa II requested that Festus bring Paul to him so that he could hear him himself, and Festus had Agrippa and his sister Berenice be placed in the audience for Paul's trial. Paul defended himself in front of the King, making his defense against the accusations of the Jews. He criticized Paul's defense, but Paul ultimately won the right to stand trial in Rome. Also during Festus' tenure, Jewish hostility against Rome grew due to disputes over civic privileges, and Festus left office in 62 AD.